So, I live downtown in a big city and get my hair cut at a salon that exclusively caters to curly hair. They seem to follow the Deva method. My stylist gives me a pretty good hair cut but I'm having some issues. Basically, the salon is super pricey (it cost me $85.00 to get my BSL hair cut and styled- no color). I can only afford to go twice a year. My stylist is nice but she is super pushy on the expensive products (which I can't afford) and always tells me I don't get my hair cut enough and I should do it more. I've tried mentioning that I'm a student so I can't afford to go every six weeks and I'm happy with my drugstore products. She won't drop the topic.

My hair also takes forever to dry- last time I was there she tried to finish me off with a hand dryer after I sat under the hooded dryer for thirty minutes. She just gave up after awhile and I left with hair that wasn't quite dry enough. I always feel like I'm being rushed.

So, I'm thinking I need to break up with this salon but I'm nervous because they're the main "curly hair salon" in my area and the hair cut is technically good even if the experience isn't. There are a couple of places I'm considering but I'm having trouble taking the plunge. Any words of advice?

Different stylist same salon/ models night? Bit of straight talking/ broken record technique "I am on a very low income, please don't embarrass me by asking again"? Saying you are happy with drugstore products leaves room for a pushy sales person to say their products are better, repeatedly saying you cannot afford it does not. The broken record technique is a really tough conversation for the other party because they are getting no 'ins' to the next sales technique.

Have you tried being frank with your stylist? By frank I mean, expressing your dissatisfaction in a genial courteous way? Saying I've told you time and again I do not want to purchase the products and hey, just because my hair takes longer to dry doesn't mean you can kick me out early. If you want to find somewhere better, I know there are options. I can get a great haircut for $40, for instance and I live in a metropolitan area. And it's positively ridiculous for your stylist to expect you to come every 6 weeks. If you're sporting a sexy short 'do that needs maintenance then yeah. But if you have long hair and you're taking good care of it, you don't need to go that often. The long layers and style they put in should hold. Honestly, I kind of want to have some words with this woman for you.

Get a new stylist at the same salon. when you make your next appt, just say you weren't happy with so and so. or that you'd like someone different. Receptionist hear that all the time. It's not like she is going to confront you in the salon. that's tacky and she'd lose her job. but if you don't feel comfortable with that, schedule it for a time when she is not there.

She's pushing products because she makes a commission on them. and if she keeps doing that it sounds like she doesn't respect you or your hair. She's just pushing for her own gain. Same reason she is also pushing you to get your hair cut more often. She only cares about the $$.

If you go to a different stylist they might try to push the same products because that's the salon's style and what they expect their stylists to do. The salon might make easier money in selling products than in providing service.

I have a similar situation. Most of the year I live in Asia where finding a stylist who can cut even wavy hair is very difficult. I go to a salon where they are always trying to push treatments on me... PTs or DTs I don't even know what they are and they probably don't either. And they're like $100!!

Anyway, my stylist has done decent cuts so I just put it up with the pushiness and politely decline each time. Is it a great experience? No. But for me, 3 months of a decent-good cut far outweighs the social discomfort I may face during cuts.

If you're US-based though, you are probably lucky to have more options. It wouldn't be a bad idea to branch out. Have you tried looking at the salon reviews portion of this site? If you only get your hair cut 2x a year and have the means of transportation it may even be worthwhile to look further from your immediate location. Good luck!

I think I'm going to branch out and try a new place- I've heard some good reviews about a few salons that are in my general area. What's the worst that could happen right? (wait... don't answer that lol).